What does Job 39:18 teach us about humility and recognizing God's power? Setting the Scene • God addresses Job out of the whirlwind (Job 38–41), revealing detailed knowledge of creation that Job cannot match. • Job 39:13-18 spotlights the ostrich—oddly forgetful of her eggs yet astonishingly swift. • Verse 18 concludes the portrait: “Yet when she lifts herself on high, she laughs at the horse and its rider”. Reading the Verse “Yet when she lifts herself on high, she laughs at the horse and its rider.” (Job 39:18) Key Observations • “Lifts herself on high” – the ostrich straightens, spreads powerful legs, and surges forward. • “Laughs at the horse and its rider” – an image of effortless superiority; even the war-horse, symbol of human strength (cf. Job 39:19-25), cannot catch her. • God alone endowed this seemingly foolish bird with remarkable speed (Job 39:17). Lessons on Humility • Human evaluation is limited. We might judge the ostrich as foolish or poorly designed, yet God grants her a gift mankind admires but cannot replicate (Psalm 104:24). • Job—representing us—must recognize that ignorance of God’s purposes does not equal absence of purpose (Job 38:4). • Accepting God’s design in others curbs pride: “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). Recognizing God’s Power • God distributes abilities as He wills; none can challenge His allocation (Isaiah 45:9). • Divine power blends apparent weakness and stunning strength in a single creature, proving His uncontested sovereignty (Isaiah 55:8-9). • The ostrich outrunning the finest cavalry underscores that every earthly power has limits set by the Creator (Psalm 33:16-17). Living It Out • Embrace creaturely humility—yielding argumentative spirits to reverent wonder (James 4:6). • Celebrate God’s varied gifts in others instead of critiquing their shortcomings (Romans 12:3-6). • Respond to God’s unmatched wisdom with submission, echoing Job’s eventual confession (Job 42:1-6). |
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